Should Collingwood dump a 3rd CLOKE?

Question

Collingwood kick 4.17 against the Saints and for 5 years now, Travis Cloke has failed to learn how to kick a goal from a set shot, 30 meters out? From the 2009 top 4 teams, Cloke, compared to players playing the same position, finished 4th , the same position his team finished the season, 4th. Nick Riewoldt booted 78 goals 47, Cam Mooney 46.42, Mitch Hahn 38.14 and Cloke 22.26 . For the game against St Kilda Collingwood dropped their 2009 leading goal kicker John Anthony 50.28 and set up a forward line with Cloke and Leigh Brown, another player who can't kick a set shot at goal,scoring less than 14 goals in '09 and failing to make a list of 10 Collingwood goalkickers. Cloke's father manager David said they were not interested in an offer from the Gold Coast, the Gold Coast club denied making an offer or being interested. Collingwood could do well to consider a trade to David Cloke's old club Richmond. In a bottom of the ladder team Mitch Morton kicked 41. 26 with Jack Riewoldt next 32.27. Both would no doubt enjoy playing in a team at least good enough to make the 8,and get more scoring opportunity, while mediocre Cloke would equally be at home in a mediocre bottom of the ladder team. New coach in waiting Nathan Buckley, said on radio 3AW before the St Kilda game there is not enough time in the week to teach players to kick, while Senior coach Mick Malthouse actually "has time" this season, to commentate for SEN? Its just so dissappointing for the beleagued toothless Magpie supporters, that they 'cant speak' out and at least suggest, while Mick and Eddie who often mention the Collingwood family, and obviously have to work 2nd jobs commentating to pay their players, why not get former ace goal kicker Peter McKenna to spend sometime at the "paddock" with their dud goalkickers. Isn't that how a family works in hard times, everyone pitching in to help ?

Update:

Sorry Romper, i accept your slap on the wrist, for offering Cloke to the Tiges. I just thought it was a good point though, how a bottom 4 side could have 2 key forwards kick more goals than a top 4 side key forward .

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Yes. Get rid of him. I don't like him.

But you have made a good point about players & set shots.
I am forever amazed at the misses on goal I see from top
players.

They are now professional full time footballers. Surely they
should be able to pot set shots at goal from the 30-40 metre
range nine times out of ten.

Buckley claims not enough time in the week to teach players
to kick? If so, give those players the boot (no pun intended).

It's a bit like a carpenter not knowing how to hammer a nail in
 to wood; a brickie not being able to lay bricks straight; & so on.

What is the reason? Look at some of the old players, McKenna, 
Hudson, Brereton, Modra, Locket for example. They kicked OK & the ground
conditions were nowhere near as good as they are today.

Renee · Answer

I have been away from the world of the internet and AFL for the past 10 days -- and I am seriously BAFFLED. 

I have no idea what happened in the Melbourne game, still going to read about it, but when I saw the St. Kilda game scores, first thought that came in my mind was that Cloke must be behind the majority of behinds. But what I saw was worse, I saw that almost everyone had chipped in with behinds. 

Saying that I am disappointed with Collingwood's performance would be a very, very big understatement. I am utterly disgusted. A one point win over Melbourne, and then a pathetic loss to St. Kilda. I'm not absolutely surprised over the loss against St. Kilda, just pis*ed off at the poor kicking.

funny bone · Answer

Look, he's a good player but he's not consistent at all. And what a club wants is a consistent player.
I'm not sure it's that he's crap up froward or if he just can't handle the pressure. I mean he can kick from 20m out but during games... he'll miss. That's not what a footy player is expected to do obviously and I think pressure is a major issue for him to conquer.
I also don't think he's a great player up forward, I mean he should be experimenting other positions to find a place were he's 'good' at, because he's still finding he's feet.
I remember a while back when he first started out, he was a fine player. He was one of our key forwards. I have no idea what happened since then but he's just gotta get his feet right. He still is young and has the potential and body size to become a great footballer, he just has to improve. I think we should keep him for a little longer.

Romper Stomper · Answer

I have said for longer than i care to remember that Cloke is the worst shot for goal out of all the forwards in the AFL, what's point of him taking marks if he can't kick goals.

Don't think we'd want him at Richmond either Deedub, why bring us into it, we have young Reiwoldt who is a bit of a work in progress,but there is light at the end of the tunnel with him, why do you think the tigers woulf put all their time and effort in Riewodlt to let those vultures swoop on him, what makes you think he'd want to play for the maggots, i mean magpies, leave Cloke with them.

BrutalBunz · Answer

You truely are a fool. They guy is still only young. Riewoldt did exactly the same thing. And look at him now. He is a great footballer. You are the problem you expect perfection. You can't have it and thats why you are bringing it down. 


A lot of other guys are just as inaccurate that are older. But when was the last time you complained of them? Never? Thought so. So stop judging. Leave him alone and stop being such a judgmental person. And yes you are a very judgmental person.

CheeKy CHezZa · Answer

I think Cloke is a good player, i just don't think he's a forward. I just think he's kicking technique sucks. I think he should try somewhere in the midfield or back, he's a pretty good kick. If he still can't get the goods the yeah, he isn't gonna last long at the pies very long.

Anonymous · Answer

the AFL should dump all the clokes

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Should Collingwood dump a 3rd CLOKE?

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